Furrow closer

ABSTRACT

A furrow closer apparatus has a bracket extending down from an upper forward portion of an implement shank. Right and left spring arms with soil moving elements at lower ends thereof are attached at top ends thereof to right and left coil springs connected by a cross member. A spring tube extends through the coil springs and through the bracket aperture to attach the spring arms such that a spring arm extends rearward and downward on each side of a shank location. Clips are attached to the spring tube on each side of the bracket aperture and define clip apertures. The cross member extends through the clip apertures, and the clip apertures are larger than the cross member such that the cross member is movable in the clip apertures. Rotatable discs with a twine wrap inhibiting ring can provide the soil moving elements.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation-in-part of pending U.S.application Ser. No. 11/060,256 entitled “Furrow Closer” and filed onFeb. 17, 2005, an application which itself claims priority to CanadianPatent Application No. 2,458,118 filed on Feb. 17, 2004.

BACKGROUND

This invention is in the field of cultivators and seeders such as areused in agriculture for seeding, fertilizing, and the like by openingfurrows in the ground and depositing appropriate agricultural materialsin the furrows, and in particular with mechanisms to close the furrowscreated by such seeders.

Seeders are known in the agricultural industry for planting andfertilizing crops. A typical seeder comprises a frame on wheels carryinga plurality of furrow openers and a distribution system for depositingagricultural materials such as seed, fertilizer, and the like in thefurrows. Typically there will also be a packing mechanism as well thatwill pack the furrows to improve seed to soil contact.

Commonly the furrow opener comprises a ground engaging tool such as aknife, shovel, or the like mounted on a shank that extends downward fromthe seeder frame, and a tube that delivers agricultural materials intothe furrow created by the tool as it moves through the ground. Some ofthe soil moved by the tool to create the furrow will fall back into thefurrow to cover the seed, however typically a significant amount of soilremains in a pair of ridges, one on each side of the furrow.Considerable prior art has been directed to creating furrow closingdevices for moving this soil back over the furrow to ensure that theagricultural materials in the furrow are covered, and to level theground.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,782,307 to Forsyth, 5,623,997 to Rawson et al.,5,595,249 to Steinberger et al., 5,333,694 to Roggenbuck et al.,4,485,878 to Uken, and 2,070,509 to Chiles disclose furrow closingdevices comprising a pair of discs mounted to a shank and oriented tomove soil from a location beside a furrow over on top of the furrow. Thediscs can be pivotally mounted to the shank and biased downward asdisclosed in Forsyth and Rawson et al. to ensure they engage the soil.Alternatively the weight of the pivotally mounted discs can suffice toengage the soil sufficiently for the purpose of moving the requiredamount of soil, as disclosed in Steinberger et al., and Chiles.

Similarly U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,805,613 to Siems, 3,157,139 to Spindler,3,175,622 to Stam, 3,227,226 to Bayne, 3,251,423 to McCauley, 3,322,203to Johnson, 3,536,145 to Clark, and 4,037,545 to Dreyer disclose furrowclosing and ground leveling devices comprising various drags, scoops,harrow teeth, and the like that are fixed to the shanks to push soiltoward the furrow.

In typical air seeders, one or more hoses run down the back of the shankto direct agricultural materials into the furrow created by the groundengaging tool on the bottom of the shank. The prior art devicesgenerally are mounted on the rear of the shank, and so it is difficultto properly locate the hoses and devices on the rear of the shank.

Furrow closers that move soil with drags do not work well in wet, stickysoil because the soil builds up on the surface of the drag. Harrow teethdo not move sufficient soil to satisfactorily cover the furrow, sincesuch teeth push soil contacted in both directions, rather than movingsoil only toward the furrow, as with a drag. Soil does not stick torotating discs to the same extent, and scrapers can be attached to cleandisc surfaces as they rotate. The prior art disc furrow closers arecomplex and costly, especially those that include a spring to bias thediscs.

On farms where cattle are fed on fields, baler twine is often present onland being worked by air seeders and the like. When using groundengaging rotating discs such as are used in the furrow closers describedabove, such twine commonly wraps around the shaft connecting the discsto the implement. This ball of twine exerts considerable pressure andcan cause the disc to stop rotating and can damage bearings. It iscommon to cut this wrapped twine away with a cutting torch, however itis difficult to prevent damaging the bearings and shaft when cuttingtwine wrapped tightly against them.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a furrow closerapparatus that overcomes problems in the prior art. It is a furtherobject of the present invention to provide such a furrow closerapparatus that mounts under the shank and beside the shank, leaving therear of the shank unobstructed. It is a further object of the presentinvention to provide such a furrow closer apparatus that biases the soilmoving elements of the closer to a neutral operating position so thatexcessive soil penetration is avoided, and yet movement away from theoperating position is resisted by a bias force.

The present invention provides, in a first embodiment, a furrow closerapparatus for attachment to a shank of a ground working implement, theshank extending rearward and downward from an implement frame member toa lower shank end adapted for attachment to a ground engaging tool. Theapparatus comprises a bracket adapted for attachment to the implementsuch that the bracket extends down from an upper forward portion of theshank. A bracket aperture is defined by a lower end of the bracket, thebracket aperture oriented substantially horizontally and perpendicularto an operating travel direction of the implement. Right and left springarms are attached at top ends thereof to right and left coil springs,the right and left coil springs connected by a cross member. Right andleft soil moving elements are attached to lower ends of the respectiveright and left spring arms. A spring tube extends through the coilsprings and through the bracket aperture to attach the spring arms tothe bracket such that a spring arm extends rearward and downward fromthe lower end of the bracket on each side of a shank location. Right andleft clips are attached to the spring tube on corresponding right andleft sides of the bracket aperture such that the right and left clipsdefine right and left clip apertures. The cross member extends throughthe right and left clip apertures, and the clip apertures are largerthan the cross member such that the cross member is movable in the clipapertures.

The present invention provides, in a second embodiment, a ground workingimplement comprising an implement frame adapted for movement along theground in an operating travel direction, and a curved shank extendingrearward and then downward from an implement frame member to a lowershank end, and a ground engaging tool attached to the lower shank endand operative to create a furrow in the soil when the implement is movedalong the ground. A bracket is attached to the implement such that thebracket extends down from an upper forward portion of the shank, and abracket aperture is defined by a lower end of the bracket, the bracketaperture oriented substantially horizontally and perpendicular to theoperating travel direction. Right and left spring arms are attached attop ends thereof to right and left coil springs and the right and leftcoil springs are connected by a cross member. Right and left soil movingelements attached to lower ends of the respective right and left springarms. A spring tube extends through the coil springs and through thebracket aperture to attach the spring arms to the bracket such that aspring arm extends rearward and downward from the lower end of thebracket on each side of a shank location. Right and left clips areattached to the spring tube on corresponding right and left sides of thebracket aperture such that the right and left clips define right andleft clip apertures. The cross member extends through the right and leftclip apertures, and the clip apertures are larger than the cross membersuch that the cross member is movable in the clip apertures.

The apparatus of the invention provides an effective and economicalfurrow closer that is conveniently mounted on a conventional cultivatorshank, and leaves the rear of the shank unobstructed to facilitateattachment of seed boots, seed tubes and the like for use in air seedingapplications, and the clips holding the cross member loosely reduce theoccurrence of parts becoming loose.

The present invention further provides a rotating disc apparatus forattachment to a ground working implement. The apparatus comprises an armadapted for attachment to the implement at an upper portion thereof, amounting plate fixed to a lower portion of the arm, and a shaftextending substantially perpendicular to a surface of the mountingplate. A hub is rotatably attached to the shaft, and a disc is attachedto the hub by a substantially circular pattern of bolts. The boltsextend from the disc and hub toward the mounting plate substantiallyparallel to the shaft. A ring is positioned between the disc and themounting plate, the ring defining a ring aperture having a diameterlarger than an outside diameter of the circular pattern of bolts suchthat the bolts extend into the ring aperture and such that the ringrotates around the circular pattern of bolts. The ring has a widthgreater than a distance from ends of the bolts to the mounting platesuch that the ring is prevented from passing between the ends of thebolts and the mounting plate.

In operation contact of twine on the ground with the bolts is reducedand thus the occurrence of twine wrapping around the shaft is alsoreduced.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

While the invention is claimed in the concluding portions hereof,preferred embodiments are provided in the accompanying detaileddescription which may be best understood in conjunction with theaccompanying diagrams where like parts in each of the several diagramsare labeled with like numbers, and where:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a shank and ground engaging tool with a bracketof the invention attached;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the shank and bracket of FIG. 1 with coilsprings, spring arms, and discs installed;

FIG. 2A is a side view showing an alternate shape of the spring arms;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the coil springs, spring arms, and discs of FIG.2;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the coil springs, spring arms, and discs ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a top view of an alternate apparatus using deflector plates assoil moving elements;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the alternate apparatus of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a front view of the attachment of the spring arms to thebracket;

FIG. 8 is a schematic side view showing the spring tube in place in thebracket tube, with upper and lower limits of the neutral vertical rangeof the spring arms;

FIG. 9 is a schematic side view showing an alternate lower stopcomprising a slotted gauge member;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the slotted gauge member of theembodiment of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a schematic side view showing an alternate stop apparatus andgauge member;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the gauge member of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a rear perspective view of an alternate embodiment of afurrow closer apparatus of the present invention for attachment to ashank of a ground working implement where the spring arms are looselyattached by clips;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a clip used in the embodiment of FIG.13;

FIG. 15 is a front perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is a schematic side view of the spring tube in the bracket tube,and the attachment of the clip to the spring tube adjacent to the end ofthe bracket tube;

FIG. 17 is a schematic rear view of a spring arm and ground engagingdisc apparatus;

FIG. 18 is a schematic side view of the disc of the apparatus of FIG. 17with a ring placed over the bolts holding the disc;

FIG. 19 is a schematic rear view of the apparatus of FIG. 17 with thering in position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1-4 illustrate a furrow closer apparatus 1 of the invention forattachment to a shank 3 of a ground working implement adapted formovement along the ground in an operating travel direction T. FIGS. 1and 2 illustrate a ground engaging tool 5 attached to the lower shankend 7 of the shank 3. The ground engaging tool 5 is operative to createa furrow 9 in the soil 11 when the implement is moved along the ground.The illustrated shank 3 also has a seed boot 13 attached to the rearside of the lower shank end 7 and a seed tube 15 following generallyalong the rear side of the shank 3 to the seed boot 13 for carryingseed, fertilizer, and the like to the boot 13 to be directed into thefurrow 9. Such a configuration is typical of an air seeder.

The shank 3 is conventionally attached to an implement frame member 17and is illustrated as extending in a curve rearward and then downwardfrom the implement frame member 17 to the lower shank end 7. This typeof shank is commonly used in cultivators, air seeders and the like.

A bracket 19 is attached to the shank 3 such that the bracket 19 extendsdown from an upper forward portion of the shank 3. First and secondspring arms 21, 22, as seen in FIG. 3, are attached to a lower end ofthe bracket 19 such that a spring arm 21, 22 extends rearward anddownward from the lower end of the bracket 19 on each side of and belowthe shank 3. The spring arms 21, 22 are biased to a neutral positionsuch that movement of the spring arms 21, 22 away from the neutralposition is resisted by a bias force exerted by coil springs 25.

First and second soil moving elements, illustrated as discs 27, 28 areattached to lower ends of the respective first and second spring arms21, 22 such that the discs 27, 28 are in proximity to the lower shankend 7 when the spring arms 21, 22 are in the neutral position and suchthat leading faces 31 of the discs 27, 28 are oriented at opposed anglesto the operating travel direction T such that forward portions of theleading faces 31 are farther apart than rearward portions of the leadingfaces 31. Thus soil contacted by each leading face 31 is moved towardthe shank 3 rearward of the shank 3 and over the furrow 9 created by theground engaging tool 5.

Scrapers 33 are oriented to clean soil from the leading faces 31 of thediscs 27, 28. In the illustrated embodiment, the distal ends of arms 21,22 are bent and welded together at joint 36 and the scrapers 33 comprisea plate or angle iron welded to the joint 36. In addition to cleaningthe discs, the scraper thus also reinforces the joint 36.

In the illustrated embodiment, the discs 27, 28 are also oriented at anangle to the vertical such that upper portions of the leading faces 31are farther apart than lower portions of the leading faces 31. Thus soilcontacted by each leading face 31 is moved somewhat upward as well astoward the shank 3. The incline of the discs 27, 28 off the vertical andoff the operating travel direction T also causes the discs 27, 28 todraw themselves into the soil rather than simply rolling on top.

The illustrated shank 3 is typical of the shape of shanks used onvarious brands of agricultural implements, however the dimensions andangles of curvature vary from one model to another. The configuration ofthe bracket 19 will be modified to suit the particular shank 3 on whichthe apparatus will be mounted so that the spring arms 21, 22 extendrearward and downward at a under the shank 3 and on each side of theshank.

With such a configuration the discs 27, 28 will readily ride up and overobstructions. Generally the bracket 19 will be attached to the shank 3,however with some models of implement attachment may be moreconveniently made to the implement frame 17 or some other part of theimplement such that the bracket tube 43 or like attachment member at thelower end of the bracket 19 is under the upper forward portion of theshank 3.

With the spring arms 21, 22 oriented below and on each side of the shank3 the rear of the shank 3 is left clear for unobstructed attachment ofthe seed boot 13 and seed tube 15, as opposed to the prior art furrowclosers where the rear of the shank 3 is obstructed.

FIG. 2A illustrates an alternate embodiment of the first and secondspring arms. The spring arm 221 again extends rearward and downward fromthe lower end of the bracket 219, however instead of being substantiallystraight and oriented at an angle as in the embodiment of FIG. 2, itcurves rearward and downward as illustrated. The spring arm 221 is againbiased to a neutral position such that movement of the spring arm 221away from the neutral position is resisted by a bias force exerted bycoil springs 225.

As illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 the spring arms 21, 22 are attached attop ends thereof to coil springs 25, and are pivotally mounted to thebracket 19 by a spring tube 41 through the coil springs 25 and through abracket aperture defined by a bracket tube 43 at the lower end of thebracket 19. The coil springs 25 are connected by a cross member 45. Thespring arms 21 and 22, coil springs 25, and cross member 45 areconfigured the same as a conventional paired tine harrow as is known inthe art, and such a tine harrow can be conveniently and economicallyused to provide these elements of the apparatus.

Upper stop 47 and lower stop 49 are oriented to bear against the crossmember 45 and define the limits of a neutral vertical range N withinwhich the spring arms 21, 22 can pivot freely with respect to thebracket 19 before the bias force of the coil springs 25 is exerted onthe spring arms 21, 22.

In the schematic illustration of FIG. 8 the coil has been deleted sothat the relationship between the cross member 45 and stops 47, 49 canbe illustrated. The spring arm 21 is shown at the upper limit of itsneutral vertical range in position PA1, prevented from further upwardfree movement by the cross member 45 bearing against the upper stop 47.FIG. 8 also shows the spring arm 21 at the lower limit of its neutralvertical range in position PA2, prevented from further downward freemovement by the cross member 45 bearing against the lower stop 49. Whenthe implement is raised for transport, the lower stop 49 prevents thespring arms 21, 22 from falling lower than position PA2 thus maintainingthe discs in a raised position so the implement can be transported withthe discs above the ground.

Between the upper and lower stops 47, 49 the cross member 45 movesfreely and so no bias force is exerted on the spring arms 21, 22 by thecoil springs 25. Lateral movement of the spring arms 21, 22 however willbe resisted by a bias force exerted by the coil springs 25 when the armsare in the neutral vertical range N.

In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 8 the upper stop 47 is provided bya bolt 55 through the spring tube 41 adjacent to each end of the brackettube 43. The lower stops 49 are provided by bolts 50 threaded throughthe wall of the bracket tube 43 and bearing against the outer wall ofthe spring tube 41. The bolts 50 are locked with jam nuts 51. Byloosening the bolts 50 the spring tube 41 can be rotated to vary theposition of the upper stop 47 with respect to the bracket 19 and thenlocked by tightening the bolts 50 and jam nuts 51, and thus adjust theupper limit of movement of the spring arms 21, 22. Threaded holes can beprovided in the wall of the bracket tube 43 at a number of locations toallow the position of the lower stop 49 to be adjusted as well.

Alternatively as illustrated in FIG. 9 a slotted gauge member 270 couldbe attached by the bolts 250. The gauge member 270 is shown in FIG. 10.The gauge member 270 can be moved on the bolts 250 along the slots 272.The bolts 250 are tightened as before to lock the spring tube 41 withrespect to the bracket tube 43, and then the nut 256 is tightened tosecure the gauge member 270 so that the lower stop 249 at the end of thegauge member 270 is in the desired position so that the cross member 45would bear against the lower stop 249 at the desired lower limit of theneutral vertical range. The bracket 19 and upper stop 47 are as in FIG.8. The cross member 45 and spring arm 21 are illustrated at upper andlower positions PA1, PA2 as in FIG. 8 as well.

If it is desired to conduct a field operation without the discs 27, 28engaging the soil, that can be readily accomplished by loosening thebolt 50 and raising them out of the way. The arms 21, 22 could bechained up to the bracket 19, or the lower stop 49, such as with gaugemember 270 in FIG. 9, could be adjusted so that when the arms 21, 22 areat the lower limit of the neutral vertical range N the discs 27, 28 areabove the ground in a non-operating position.

A further alternative mount is illustrated in FIG. 11. The spring coilhas been deleted so that the relationship between the cross member 45and stops 47, 49 can be illustrated. The spring arm is prevented fromupward free movement by the cross member 45 bearing against the upperstop 47. The spring arm is prevented from downward free movement by thecross member 45 bearing against the lower stop 349. When the implementis raised for transport, the lower stop 349 prevents the spring armsfrom falling and maintains the discs in a raised position so theimplement can be transported with the discs above the ground.

Between the upper and lower stops 47, 349 the cross member 45 movesfreely and so no bias force is exerted on the spring arms by the coilsprings. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 11, the range of up anddown movement of the cross member 45 is quite small, essentially being aloose fit of the cross member 45 between the stops 47, 349.

In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 11 a gauge member 370 is attachedby the bolt 350 through the spring tube 341 and spacers 351. The gaugemember 370 is shown in FIG. 12. The gauge member 370 is clamped againstthe bracket tube 343 by bolt 350 in the desired position.

As illustrated in FIG. 3 a flexible tether 35 is attached at one end toone spring arm 21 and at the opposite end to the other spring arm 22such that outward movement of one spring arm 21, 22 away from the shank3 will cause the tether 35 to exert an inward force on the other springarm toward the shank 3. When engaged in the soil, the orientation of thediscs 27, 28 causes the soil to exert a force on each disc away from theshank 3, however by tying the spring arms 21, 22 together with thetether 35, these forces are resisted and the discs are maintained in thepreferred location relative to the shank 3 so that soil moved by thediscs 27, 28 will land on top of the furrow 9 to close the furrow andlevel the soil. The flexible tether 35 does allow the spring arms 21, 22to move freely toward each other, exerting a force only when the armstry to move apart. The tether 35 is illustrated as a chain, which issimple and economical and will not stretch. It is contemplated that insome applications it may be desired to provide a tether 35 that has somedegree of resilience, such that a shock to one disc, such as by hittinga stone which forces it outwards, will not subject the other disc to thesame degree of shock.

Typically during operation the spring arms 21, 22 are oriented in theneutral vertical range N when the ground engaging tool 5 is engaged withthe ground and creating a furrow 9 on substantially level ground. Whilethe discs 27, 28 are relatively light, their weight, combined with theirground engaging angled orientation, will cause them to engage sufficientsoil to cover the furrow 9 and level the ground. Care must be taken thatthe discs 27, 28 do not move excessive soil, creating their own discfurrows on each side of the furrow 9. The discs 27, 28 can be orientedso that they barely touch the ground as well, so that they essentiallyjust catch soil that is thrown up and to the side by the ground engagingtool 5, and deflect it back over the furrow 9.

With the arms 21, 22 in the neutral position during operation, there isno downward bias force exerted during normal operations, but when anobstruction such as a rock or lump of soil is encountered, the disc 27or 28 will begin to rise and will be met by a resisting bias force oncethe arm 21 or 22 moves out of the neutral position or neutral verticalrange N. If the upward force exerted by the obstruction is greater thanthe bias force the arm will continue to rise against the bias force, butonce past the obstruction the arm will be forced down back into theneutral position. The bias force thus prevents the discs 27, 28 fromflying up when an obstruction is encountered, and quickly returns thediscs to the desired operating position.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate an alternate embodiment of the furrow closer ofthe invention wherein the first and second soil moving elements comprisefirst and second deflector plates 127, 128 fixed to the lower ends ofthe respective first and second spring arms 121, 122. This embodiment isotherwise similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4 mounted on coil springs125 and including a tether 135 to prevent outward movement of one armwith respect to the other. The illustrated deflector plates 127, 128 arecurved to smoothly direct soil over the furrow. In certain conditions,such as in dry soil, such non-rotating soil moving elements can providesatisfactory service.

A wear bar 157 is also shown. The wear bar 157 is fastened to the springarm 121 by passing same through a socket 159 attached to the arm 121 andclamping to the arm 121 with the same clamp 161 that attaches the tether135. The end of the wear bar 157 projects somewhat lower than thedeflector plate 127 and engages the soil to raise the deflector plate127 somewhat to control the amount of soil deflected. As the wear bar157 wears, the clamp 161 can be loosened to move it out.

FIGS. 13-16 illustrate an alternate furrow closer apparatus 401 forattachment to a shank of a ground working implement, the shank extendingrearward and downward from an implement frame member to a lower shankend adapted for attachment to a ground engaging tool as illustrated inFIG. 1. The apparatus 401 comprises a bracket 419 adapted for attachmentto the shank by clamps 402 such that the bracket 419 extends down froman upper forward portion of the shank in the same manner as isillustrated in FIG. 1.

A bracket aperture 442 is defined by a lower end of the bracket 419. Thebracket aperture 442 is oriented substantially horizontally andperpendicular to an operating travel direction T of the implement. Inthe illustrated apparatus 401 the bracket aperture 442 is provided by abracket tube 443 welded to the bracket 419.

Right and left spring arms 421 are attached at top ends thereof to rightand left coil springs 425, and the right and left coil springs 425 areconnected by a cross member 445. As described above the spring arms 421,coil springs 425, and cross member 425 can be conveniently provided by aconventional paired tine harrow such as are readily economicallyavailable. Right and left soil moving elements, illustrated as discs427, are rotatably attached to lower ends of the respective right andleft spring arms 421.

A spring tube 441 extends through the coil springs 425 and through thebracket aperture 442 to attach the spring arms 421 to the bracket 419such that a spring arm 421 extends rearward and downward from the lowerend of the bracket 419 on each side of a shank location as in the samemanner as described above.

In the illustrated apparatus 401, the cross member 445 is attached tothe bracket 419 by right and left clips 444 attached to the spring tube441 on corresponding right and left sides of the bracket aperture 442such that the right and left clips 444 define right and left clipapertures 446. The cross member 445 extends through the right and leftclip apertures 446. The clip apertures 446 are slightly larger than thecross member 445 such that the cross member 445 fits loosely and ismovable in the clip apertures 446. This loose fit provides the up anddown neutral range discussed above with respect to the priorembodiments, and also allows the spring arms 421 and coils 425 tovibrate freely, reducing the occurrence of parts, such as the boltsfastening the disc to the apparatus, becoming loose. The clips 444 canbe tightened firmly to the spring tube 441 and the cross member 445 willbe held loosely, as seen in FIG. 16.

The apparatus 401 also comprises a releasable lock 452 operative to lockthe spring tube 441 to the bracket tube 443 to selectively allow orprevent rotation of the spring tube 441 in the bracket tube 443 toadjust the angle of the spring arms 421. Conveniently the lock 452 isprovided by a bolt engaging threads in the bracket tube 443 such thatrotating the bolt causes an end of the bolt to bear against the springtube 441. A jam nut on the bolt secures the bolt against unintentionalrelease.

The cross member 445 extends along an outer surface of the bracket tube443 from the right coil spring 425R to the left coil spring 425L. Rightand left clips 444R, 444L are located adjacent to right and left ends ofthe bracket tube 443 to prevent lateral movement of the spring tube 441in the bracket tube 443.

The clips 444 are attached to the spring tube by bolts 454 extendingthrough the spring tube. The heads 456 of the bolts 454 are engaged inrecesses 458 defined by the clips 44 such that the bolts 454 areprevented from turning with respect to the clips 444 to facilitateinstallation and removal of nuts from the bolts 454.

A flexible tether such as described above can also be attached betweenthe right and left spring arms.

On farms where cattle are fed on fields, baler twine is often present onland being worked by air seeders and the like. When using groundengaging rotating discs such as in the furrow closing apparatusdescribed above, such twine commonly wraps around the shaft connectingthe discs to the implement. A twine inhibiting rotating disc apparatus500 is illustrated in FIGS. 18 and 19. The apparatus 500 is suited foruse on the furrow closer described above, but could be adapted for useon any ground working implement.

A spring arm and ground engaging disc is illustrated in FIG. 17.comprising an arm 521 adapted for attachment to an implement 517 at anupper portion thereof. A mounting plate 560 is fixed to a lower portionof the arm 521 and a shaft 562 extends perpendicular to a surface of themounting plate 560. A hub 564 is rotatably attached to the shaft 562 anda disc 527 is attached to the hub 564 by a substantially circularpattern of bolts 566. The bolts 566 extend through the disc 527 and hub564 and then toward the mounting plate 560, substantially parallel tothe shaft 562. As the disc 527 and bolts 566 rotate, twine often catcheson the bolts 566 and wraps around the shaft 562.

FIGS. 18 and 19 illustrate the apparatus 500 of the invention comprisingsuch a disc arrangement where a ring 570 is positioned between the disc527 and the mounting plate 560. The ring 570 defining a ring aperture572 having a diameter larger than an outside diameter of the circularpattern of bolts 566, as shown in FIG. 18, such that the bolts 566extend into the ring aperture 572 and such that the ring 570 rotatesaround the circular pattern of bolts 566. As seen in FIG. 19, the ring570 has a width W greater than a distance D from inner ends of the bolts566 to the mounting plate 560, as shown in FIG. 17, such that the ring570 is prevented from passing between the ends of the bolts 566 and themounting plate 560.

The ring 570 has a width W configured such that an inner edge E1 of thering 570 is adjacent to the surface of the mounting plate 560, and anouter edge of the ring is adjacent to the disc, and such that the ringcan rotate freely between the surface of the mounting plate and the disc

As the disc 527 is engaged in the ground and rotating during operation,the ring 570 rotates freely on the bolts 566 and reduces the occurrenceof twine contacting the bolts 566 and then wrapping around the shaft562. It is contemplated that the ring 570 would conveniently be madefrom a light weight plastic material. The arrangement is also typical ofknown ground engaging discs in other farm implements, and it iscontemplated the ring 570 could have similar benefits in these as well.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous changes and modifications willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly, all such suitable changes or modificationsin structure or operation which may be resorted to are intended to fallwithin the scope of the claimed invention.

1. A ground working implement comprising: an implement frame adapted formovement along the ground in an operating travel direction; a curvedshank extending rearward and then downward from an implement framemember to a lower shank end; a ground engaging tool attached to thelower shank end and operative to create a furrow in the soil when theimplement is moved along the ground; a bracket attached to the implementsuch that the bracket extends down from an upper forward portion of theshank; a bracket aperture defined by a lower end of the bracket, thebracket aperture oriented substantially horizontally and perpendicularto the operating travel direction; right and left spring arms attachedat top ends thereof to right and left coil springs, the right and leftcoil springs connected by a cross member; right and left soil movingelements attached to lower ends of the respective right and left springarms; a spring tube extending through the coil springs and through thebracket aperture to attach the spring arms to the bracket such that aspring arm extends rearward and downward from the lower end of thebracket on each side of a shank location; right and left clips attachedto the spring tube on corresponding right and left sides of the bracketaperture such that the right and left clips define right and left clipapertures, and wherein the cross member extends through the right andleft clip apertures; and wherein the clip apertures are larger than thecross member such that the cross member is movable in the clipapertures.
 2. The ground working implement of claim 1 comprising abracket tube defining the bracket aperture, and a releasable lockoperative to lock the spring tube to the bracket tube to selectivelyallow or prevent rotation of the spring tube in the bracket tube.
 3. Theground working implement of claim 2 wherein the lock is provided by abolt engaging threads in the bracket tube such that rotating the boltcauses an end of the bolt to bear against the spring tube.
 4. The groundworking implement of claim 2 wherein the cross member extends along anouter surface of the bracket tube from the right coil spring to the leftcoil spring.
 5. The ground working implement of claim 1 wherein theclips are located adjacent to right and left ends of the bracketaperture.
 6. The ground working implement of claim 1 wherein the clipsare attached to the spring tube by bolts extending through the springtube.
 7. The ground working implement of claim 6 wherein heads of thebolts are engaged in recesses defined by the clips such that the boltsare prevented from turning with respect to the clips.
 8. The groundworking implement of claim 1 further comprising a flexible tetherattached at one end to the right spring arm and at the opposite end tothe left spring arm such that outward movement of one spring arm awayfrom the shank location will cause the tether to exert an inward forceon the other spring arm toward the shank location.
 9. The ground workingimplement of claim 1 wherein the spring arms, coil springs, and crossmember are provided by a conventional paired tine harrow.
 10. A furrowcloser apparatus for attachment to a shank of a ground workingimplement, the shank extending rearward and downward from an implementframe member to a lower shank end adapted for attachment to a groundengaging tool, the apparatus comprising: a bracket adapted forattachment to the implement such that the bracket extends down from anupper forward portion of the shank; a bracket aperture defined by alower end of the bracket, the bracket aperture oriented substantiallyhorizontally and perpendicular to an operating travel direction of theimplement; right and left spring arms attached at top ends thereof toright and left coil springs, the right and left coil springs connectedby a cross member; right and left soil moving elements attached to lowerends of the respective right and left spring arms; a spring tubeextending through the coil springs and through the bracket aperture toattach the spring arms to the bracket such that a spring arm extendsrearward and downward from the lower end of the bracket on each side ofa shank location; right and left clips attached to the spring tube oncorresponding right and left sides of the bracket aperture such that theright and left clips define right and left clip apertures, and whereinthe cross member extends through the right and left clip apertures; andwherein the clip apertures are larger than the cross member such thatthe cross member is movable in the clip apertures.
 11. The apparatus ofclaim 10 comprising a bracket tube defining the bracket aperture, and areleasable lock operative to lock the spring tube to the bracket tube toselectively allow or prevent rotation of the spring tube in the brackettube.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the lock is provided by abolt engaging threads in the bracket tube such that rotating the boltcauses an end of the bolt to bear against the spring tube.
 13. Theapparatus of claim 11 wherein the cross member extends along an outersurface of the bracket tube from the right coil spring to the left coilspring.
 14. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the clips are locatedadjacent to right and left ends of the bracket aperture.
 15. Theapparatus of claim 10 wherein the clips are attached to the spring tubeby bolts extending through the spring tube.
 16. The apparatus of claim15 wherein heads of the bolts are engaged in recesses defined by theclips such that the bolts are prevented from turning with respect to theclips.
 17. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a flexibletether attached at one end to the right spring arm and at the oppositeend to the left spring arm such that outward movement of one spring armaway from the shank location will cause the tether to exert an inwardforce on the other spring arm toward the shank location.
 18. Theapparatus of claim 10 wherein the spring arms, coil springs, and crossmember are provided by a conventional paired tine harrow.